The “Soccer Ashes” – Australia edge out All Whites in West London
The newly rediscovered “Soccer Ashes” was contested for the first time in almost 70 years on Tuesday night as the Aussies claimed their 42nd win over New Zealand in a 2–0 win in West London.
After a disappointing loss against England on Friday, Socceroos manager Graham Arnold mentioned how if his side took their chances at Wembley it “may have been a different story.” Alas, a game against their neighbours across Oceania gave them a chance to bounce back and claim pride once again over a New Zealand side who have been far inferior in international football. Arnold made five changes from the side who played just four days prior, featuring a debut for Alessandro Circati at the back, and a return for Ipswich Town midfielder Massimo Luongo after a long absence from the squad.
In the other corner, the All Whites arrive from south-eastern Spain after Chris Wood netted a 91st minute equalizer from the penalty spot against the Democratic Republic of Congo. Results however have come few and far between for the Ferns, without a win since March of last year and in that time losing twice to their opponents. The pressure was on for the New Zealanders, being without Sarpreet Singh with a calf injury they started a handful of Scottish Premiership staples including Alex Grieve, and started as normal with Chris Wood up front.
As we went underway there were two key philosophies put up against each other. The Aussies went for a very free flowing approach with fast build up and a key emphasis at shifting the ball wide and coming inside. The All Whites however looked to play through the strength of Chris Wood and use his aerial ability to whip crosses in and hope somehow he gets on the end of it.
To my shock especially, it was New Zealand who set the early tempo in their all black strip on the night. Crosses from the left from Cacace and Just were dealt with by Souttar with a snap shot from Stamenic blocked by Keanu Baccus. However, a quick five minutes of pressure wasn’t enough to rattle Australia, and a few minutes later they took the lead on 12 minutes with a well worked team goal. With Luongo on the edge of the box on the left hand side, it was worked to Lewis Miller who delivered to the back post for Circati who nodded it down to the six-yard box for Duke to pounce home on the half volley. He moves into double figures for his country making that his 10th goal in all international games.
The Aussie dominance continued, at times New Zealand had to dig deep to win the ball but all they could muster up were hit and hope clearences. Every cross the Kiwi’s had was thwarted by a defender in yellow, meaning their obvious game plan from the start was cracking already. The second was coming for Australia and they came close 10 minutes after their first, Jordan Bos’ curling effort being met by the palms of Michael Would. A disallowed goal further denied the Australians a two-goal cushion within 35 minutes, a cross in which found Martin Boyle who finished but was deemed marginally offside making his run in.
The second half was no different to the first as the one sided play kept flooding through, once again Would being called into action to make saves after a snap shot from Connor Metcalfe after being played through by Luongo. Metcalfe then turned provider for the Aussies next chance, threading a through ball to Martin Boyle however Would rushed out quickly to make the angle tight and force the save.
The All Whites didn’t have many a chance during the second half, however their biggest one came from a free kick with just a quarter of an hour to play. Bill Tuiloma from around 25 yards out from the left hand side looping the ball over the yellow wall however just narrowly skimming the crossbar on the way over although PSV ‘keeper Matthew Ryan looked to have it covered.
Despite the late scare it was the Aussies who managed to finish it off and wrap it up with just 15 minutes to play, a corner sent in from Boyle looped to the back post and met Jackson Irvine’s head to see it nestle in the top right corner and seal the Soccer Ashes for the Socceroos. It could’ve been three just minutes later if Brandon Borrello made a clean connection on the ball from point black range, after the ball was played across the face of goal he sent it into the side netting from a position when it looked harder to miss than score.
With the lack of All White threat, the Aussies comfortably saw out the game and won the new revitalised trophy reintroduced for the first time in 69 years. Despite the result, a community of Australian and New Zealanders was fantastic to see, with almost 6000 of them coming out to support their countries on a cold Tuesday night. However, it was the Australians that will take their second Ashes trophy home this year, along with the Cricket, back to Canberra.
Attendance: 5,761
Written by: WFCHenry
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